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St Andrews · Adventure
Craigtoun Country Park
Start with the free playgrounds, gardens and Fairy Glen, then decide whether to pay for seasonal rides once you see what your children want to do. Craigtoun works well for an outdoor half-day near St Andrews, with room to stay longer for rides and a picnic. Most of the visit is outside, so pick a day when your family will be happy in the park.
- Best ages
- Toddlers to primary ages
- Cost
- Free park · optional paid rides
- Weather
- Mostly outdoors
- Allow
- Half a day or longer
Our family take
The free play areas are enough to make a visit worthwhile; if the seasonal attractions are running, add rides on the day once you know what your children want.
- Rides. Check individual ride notices before making a special trip. The Rio Grande page still carries an August 2026 breakdown notice.
- Wheelchair users. The rides require a transfer into the carriage; wheelchair storage does not mean you can remain seated in your chair.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Cost and tickets
- Park entry and parking are free. In September and October 2026, day bands cost £8.50 per person; the standard individual band is £11.50, with standard group bands £31 for three or £40 for four. Single rides cost £2.50. Under-3s are free.
- Opening pattern
- The park grounds are open 24/7. Seasonal rides use a date-specific calendar, with September–October hours of 11am–3pm on operating days. The café opens daily, 10am–4pm, or until 5pm when the rides run that late. Check the calendar for your date.
- Booking
- No booking is needed for the park. Buy individual ride tickets or day bands at the Ticket Office on the day, using cash or card. Annual-pass holders can use included rides without queuing to buy day tickets.
- Visit shape
- Half a day is realistic for the free park; allow longer if rides or a food break are part of the plan.
- Parking and getting there
- Parking is free, with dedicated disabled spaces and overflow parking. Bus 64 stops by Craigtoun Meadows Caravan Park, followed by roughly a 15-minute walk uphill.
- Access and wheels
- The route from the car park to the café, Ticket Office and main toilet block is tarmacked without significant inclines. Accessible play, communication boards, queue support and a Changing Places facility are available. Puffin Billy and Rio Grande require a transfer into the carriage; check your needs with the park.
- Food, toilets and baby changing
- The café serves hot and cold food, cakes, traybakes, drinks, snacks and ice cream. There are picnic benches, BBQ stands and an open shelter. There are two public toilet blocks, with baby changing and disabled facilities in the east-side block, plus a separate Changing Places facility.
ParkingCafé or restaurantToiletsBaby changingPacked lunch spacePlay area
3 October 2026
Check seasonal dates and prices (official)A little more detail
Make it work for your family
Play and choosing rides
Playgrounds, gardens and rides
Craigtoun's free areas give the visit its flexibility. Children can use the large Adventure Playground and All-Inclusive Play Area, with gardens, Fairy Glen, a trim trail, trampolines in the sand pit and a 30ft zip wire adding variety. You do not need to buy a ride ticket to make the visit worthwhile.
Seasonal rides and activities include Puffin Billy, Rio Grande, boating, crazy golf, putting, bouncy castles, pedal cars, go-karts, park golf and Touch Tennis. Staff supervise them on operating days; weather and individual ride notices can affect what is available.
Which ages get the most from it?
Toddlers and preschoolers have plenty to do in the free play areas, gardens and gentler seasonal options. Primary-age children have the widest choice because they can combine the play park with more paid attractions; Pedal Cars are for under-7s and Go-Karts are for ages 7+.
Older children may enjoy the go-karts, golf and tennis, but the park remains play-led rather than teen-focused. It suits mixed-age groups because younger children can stay with the free play while older siblings choose a suitable extra.
Paid rides and seasonal planning
Free park or paid attractions?
Start with the free park, then decide whether the seasonal attractions are worth the extra spend for your children. Individual rides cost £2.50 in 2026 and under-3s are free. September and October day bands are £8.50 per person; the standard individual band is £11.50, with standard group bands £31 for three or £40 for four.
Buy day tickets at the Ticket Office on the day. A wristband covers unlimited use of the seasonal attractions while they are running; it does not guarantee every ride will be available. Annual-pass holders can go straight to the rides without buying day tickets.
When Puffin Billy is running, the lift from the main gate to its stop near the café is free. The return to the car park needs a ticket. If you want to ride round repeatedly, a day wristband covers that.
Weather and seasonal planning
Most of Craigtoun is outdoors. The café, covered decking, picnic area and open shelter give you places to pause, but they are breaks rather than a rainy-day plan. Poor weather can close individual attractions, and the seasonal rides follow a date-specific calendar while the wider park grounds remain open 24/7.
The Rio Grande page still carries an August 2026 notice about a mechanical failure. Check with the park whether the railway is running if that ride is the reason for your visit; the seasonal calendar alone does not settle it.
Prams, wheelchairs and support
The route from the car park to the café, Ticket Office and main toilet block is tarmacked and has no significant inclines. Dedicated disabled parking, accessible play equipment and disabled toilets make this the easiest part of the park to plan around with wheels. Other routes and equipment may need a separate check.
Both named rides require a transfer into the carriage. Rio Grande cannot load a wheelchair; wheelchairs and buggies stay at the station, and staff can help with boarding. Puffin Billy can stow a wheelchair at the rear of the tractor and offers an aid for the step into the carriage. Contact the park if you need to check a particular transfer.
There are communication boards for non-verbal visitors. Ask at the Ticket Office for a red band if someone in your group finds queuing difficult. A basic wheelchair costs £5 to hire for the day, or an electric scooter £10; call ahead to reserve one.
Food, toilets and getting there
The café is open daily and serves hot and cold food, cakes, drinks, snacks and ice cream, with covered and open decking. Families can also bring a picnic and use the picnic area, free BBQ stands or the open shelter near the Adventure Playground.
There are two public toilet blocks, with baby changing and disabled facilities in the east-side block. The separate Changing Places facility has a toilet, bed, hoist and shower/wet room. Collect its key from the Ticket Office when open, or arrange it through the Admin Office on 01334 472013.
Parking is free, with dedicated disabled spaces and overflow parking. On busy sunny or event days, check the latest park notice before setting off. Bus 64 stops near Craigtoun Meadows Caravan Park, followed by an uphill walk of about 15 minutes. Dogs are welcome, under control throughout the park and on a short lead around the play area.
Time to allow and nearby alternatives
How long should you allow?
A simple visit is about half a day. Add time for rides, food or returning to favourite areas. If Craigtoun is your main stop, plan around being outdoors rather than fitting in several other attractions.
When another outing would suit better
Choose an indoor outing if your family needs several hours out of the rain. Craigtoun also makes less sense if you need every paid attraction guaranteed or are mainly looking for activities for teenagers. The free park keeps a mixed-age visit flexible, but the seasonal rides cannot promise a fixed programme.
Nearby St Andrews options
St Andrews Aquarium is a nearby indoor alternative for poor weather or a day based around town. The cathedral and castle suit families who would prefer a shorter history stop with ruins and views.
Cairnie Fruit Farm is a wider Fife option, not an automatic add-on. Treat it as a separate route choice, especially when its seasonal attractions are the reason for going.
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